Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 January 2018
485. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the street availability of prescription drugs since new legislation came into force; the experience and data which are available in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54371/17]
View answerThe Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Act 2016 introduced controls by way of Regulations on a number of new psychoactive substances, certain pharmaceutical drugs and some other substances which are required to be controlled on foot of EC Decision 2005/387/JHA.
One of the most significant effects of new Regulations made under the Act which came into force on 4 May 2017, relates to Benzodiazepines such as Diazepam (Valium), Alprazolam (Xanax) etc. Under the Regulations, restrictions in place in relation to the possession of controlled drugs now apply to these medicines. This is also the case for “Z Drugs” such as Zopiclone (Zimovane), Zolpidem (Stilnoct) and Zaleplon (Sonata) meaning that it is now an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 to 2016 to be in possession of these substances, even in amounts for personal use, without a valid prescription in accordance with the Act.
I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the details sought by the Deputy about the operation of the new Regulations since they came into force in May 2017. I will revert to the Deputy with those details when the report is to hand.
